NEWS

Research Assessment Exercise

On Wednesday 17th December, the University will receive its RAE results under embargo. The analysed data will be issued to Deans as soon as possible that morning. Later that morning the University will also receive institutional level data for all HEIs and unit of assessment comparative data. This will include weighted GPAs for all institutions, and other useful indicators. These will also be sent to Deans.
Key messages for the University and individual UoAs will be compiled and there will be a headline release put on the University's homepage on the 18th December and a full piece on the RAE in LU text on Friday 19th.

Lancaster wins nanotechnology investment

Lancaster University is receiving over £1m to expand theoretical research in the novel electronic material graphene (one or two atom thick graphitic layers), as part of a £5m Science & Innovation Award 'Maximising the Impact of Graphene Research on Innovation' shared with Manchester University. This research is led by Professor Vladimir Falko in Physics. The competitive Science & Innovation Awards are provided by EPSRC and HEFCE to guarantee the UK leadership in strategic research areas. ›To view the full story

New Student Learning Zone

Bowland College is being redeveloped to provide new facilities for students.
The refurbishment will take place in two phases. Phase one will start on Monday 15 December and will involve the transformation of the current space into a state of the art Learning Zone.
The new open plan 848sqm space will provide an open and relaxed atmosphere available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The facilities will include study booths for individual learning, areas for interactive group work, and areas for students to plug in their own laptops.
Phase two will take place in 2009 and involve the refurbishment of Bowland College facilities and bar.
The strip-out of the south elevation of Bowland College will start on Monday 15 December. The contractors’ compound will be situated in Bowland Avenue (the area outside the Conference Centre) and will be closed off for visitor parking for the duration of the works.

Please note that the passageway which runs through Bowland College, connecting Alexandra Square to Bowland courtyard will be blocked off shortly after the work begins. A new passageway will be created by the contractors in the north west corner of Bowland Main.
Contractors will only proceed with the noisy work between the hours of 5-8pm.
For more information click here.
Any questions should be directed to the Project Manager, Anna Cockman in Estates Management or telephone 93345.

Lancaster to train a new generation of PhD students

Lancaster is set to receive around £5m to fund a new Doctoral Training Centre called the Digital Economy Innovation Centre, led by Professor Gordon Blair, to educate a new generation of PhD students. The EPSRC funding will enable around 50 PhD students over 5 years to become the innovators of the future - trained to work at the cutting edge of the Digital Economy. Lancaster University is also a partner in the Northwest Nanoscience Doctoral Training Centre (NOWNANO) led by Manchester University. NOWNANO aims to train 100 PhD students (half of those fully funded by EPSRC) who will receive taught courses in materials, nanoscience and nanotechnology and participate in multidisciplinary research projects ranging from the fundamentals of nanoscience to
application of nanodevices in engineering and medicine. Lancaster's contribution to NOWNANO is led by Professor Vladimir Falko( Physics). ›To view the full story

World Premiere for Lancaster International Concert Series’ 40th Anniversary

The world premiere of a new work by BBC Radio 3’s first Jazz New Generation Artist Gwilym Simcock is one of the highlights of the Lancaster International Concert Series’ 40th anniversary season. The jazz pianist and composer from Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra is one of the internationally renowned artists and ensembles in the 2009 programme.
The Concert Series is also continuing its pioneering webcasts with three events to be broadcast online in collaboration with Psappha, the UK’s leading contemporary music ensemble. ›To view the full story

New grant to develop statistical methodology for early phase clinical trials

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is to receive £400K for developing methodology for early phase clinical trials in areas such as medicines for children and drug safety, as part of a newly established North West Hub for Trial Methodology Research (NWHTMR).

This collaboration will provide clinical trial methodological expertise in areas such as drug safety, medicines for children, epilepsy and cancer. Professor Anne Whitehead , Professor John Whitehead, Dr Thomas Jaki and Dr Helene Thygesen from the Medical Statistics Section of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will contribute expertise in the design and analysis of early phase clinical trials in order to promote, modify and implement recently devised statistical methods.
›To view the full story

Degree day ceremonies

One of Britain’s best-loved actresses has said how pleased she is to accept an honorary degree from such a prestigious university as Lancaster. The award-winning actress Patricia Routledge CBE was awarded a Doctor of Letters by the Chancellor Sir Christian Bonington in a ceremony at the Great Hall where over two thousand postgraduates also received their degrees and diplomas.

Two other distinguished women were also awarded honorary degrees in the December ceremonies, with the philosopher Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve receiving a Doctor of Laws and the international accounting expert Professor Mary Barth a Doctor of Science.›To view the full story

Lancaster shortlisted for energy-saving award

Lancaster University has been shortlisted for a HEFCE Transformational Fund to implement low-carbon energy generation projects. If successful the projects would assist in significantly cutting the University’s carbon footprint.
Lancaster is one of 8 Higher Education Institutions to be shortlisted out of 39. The results will be announced in March 2009.

New vodcasts

Student Services has worked with HSBC bank over several months to produce a range of 1 minute vodcasts. These are being launched with the aim of helping potential and current students think about important issues relating to money and funding by talking about first time experiences.
The videos use several Lancaster alumni, working for HSBC, to highlight experiences that past students have had - so that others can avoid pitfalls they experienced or perhaps benefit from their advice. They will be used on-line and on E-campus screens to educate and highlight Student Services help on offer in the areas of budgeting and funding advice. For details please see: www.lancs.ac.uk/studentservices/download/video/funding.html

Artist Creates Floating Garden For Bangladesh

Artist Christine Dawson working in the University’s Chaplaincy Centre has created a floating Art Installation on a bamboo raft to help raise awareness about Bangladesh and how it is being affected by Global Warming . Once complete, the Installation - entitled "The Floating English Garden" - will be waterproofed and floated on Lake Carter for One World Week in spring. ›To view the full story

People

Professor Paul Farley (English & Creative Writing) has been commissioned by the BBC to write a poem reflecting on Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture. The poem was read before a studio audience and broadcast on Radio 4’s Front Row (10th December); other guests included Phil Redmond, Frank Cotterell-Boyce, Jayne Casey and Les Dennis.

Dr Robert Read (Economics) visited the European Commission in Brussels on Friday 5 December as an Invited Expert providing advice on issues relating to economic development.

Dr Felipe Otondo (LICA) has won an award for composition in the Second International Electroacoustic Music Contest – CEMVA, in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The lecturer in music technology took Second Prize for his piece “Ciguri” in the contest which included 54 pieces from 19 countries. The work also received the Citta di Udine 2008 prize for electroacoustic composition and was shortlisted for the 2008 Soundscape and Horspiel prize.

Letters

Notices

Lunchtime Carols

For half an hour on Monday lunchtime (1:15-1:45) you can hear a selection of (slightly lesser-known) carols and Christmas songs by Divers Voyces, a small a capella Lancaster-based choir. Not to be missed!
FREE (with collection for charity)
Chaplaincy Centre, Anglican Chapel,
Monday 15th December

Temporary Finance Office opening hours

Due to staff training and Christmas meal, the Research Support Office, Strategic Purchasing and Finance Division will be closed as follows.

Wednesday 17th December 11.45am to 2.15pm

Friday 19th December 12.45pm to 5pm

In addition, the Cashiers counter will be also be closed between noon and 1pm on Tuesday 16th December.

Bus Service information

ADDITIONAL NUMBER 3 BUS FROM LANCASTER AND GREAVES DURING VACATION PERIODS From 21 December 2008 Stagecoach will introduce an additional Monday to Friday Service 3 journey from Lancaster Bus Station to Lancaster University departing at 08:00, serving Common Garden Street at 08:05, Greaves at 08:10 and arriving at Lancaster University at 08:16. The term-time equivalent of this service will continue to operate during term-time to these same times but is scheduled to arrive at the University at 08:21.
For more information on buses to and from the University click here

Thank you for cycling to Lancaster University

The University has teamed up with The Plough Country Pub and Dining Room at Galgate to offer cyclists a free £10 gift certificate for The Plough.* The £10 vouchers will be given out at key cycle entrance points to the campus on selected weekdays until Friday 19th December. To qualify you must be cycling past on the correct day(s) between the hours of 08:30 and 09:30 or 16:30 and 18:00, either entering or leaving the campus by bicycle. Around 200 vouchers are available (limited to 1 per cyclist). The voucher is intended as a ‘thank you’ for cycling to and from Lancaster University. *The voucher entitles the bearer to £10 off any food purchases when dining at The Plough Inn. Valid Monday – Friday from 5pm when 2 or more dine. Minimum of 2 courses per person. www.the-plough.co.uk/ If you would like any more information about cycling at Lancaster University and the cycle to work scheme click here

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

WHAT'S ON

ADVERTS

Contact Victoria Tyrrell on (01524) 594120 with items for LU text, LU News or for external publicity.
Events information should be sent to Laura Mitchell Press Office Assistant (01524) 592103.

LU text is usually published on Fridays. On occasion it is necessary to delay publication until the following week. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION SHOULD BE EMAILED TO THE EDITOR BY 12PM THURSDAY BEFORE PUBLICATION. Adverts are limited to University members and we are unable to check incorrect contact numbers or email addresses. All attempts will be made to include adverts sent via email, but no guarantee is made.
The editor reserves the right to edit copy. The opinions expressed in this bulletin are not necessarily those of the university management.